Totalizer actuator control mechanism



Oct. 21, 1952 W LL E 2,614,749

TOTALIZER ACTUATOR CONTROL MECHANISM Filed June 3, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 FIG.I

INVENTOR JAMES WALLACE BY'MM HIS ATT RNEY Filed June 3, 1949 Oct. 21, 1952 J WALLACE 2,614,749

TOTALIZER ACTUATOR CONTROL MECHANISM 2 SHEETS Sl-IEET 2 INVENTOR JAMES WALLACE HIS ATTORNEY Patented Get. 21, 1952 TOTALIZER ACTUATOR CONTROL MECHANISM James Wallace, Manchester, England, assignor to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, @hio, a corporation of Maryland Application June 3, 1949, Serial No. 97,043 In Great Britain February 21, 1949 8 Claims.

This invention relates to accounting machines and is particularly directed to an improved mechanism for controlling the actuators for the totalizers and type carriers of such machines.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of improved means to retain the actuators in set position in total-taking or zeroizing operations.

Another object is to provide means associated with each actuator to retain said actuators in set position in total-taking operations.

Still another object is the provision of a retaining means for each denominational order for retaining the corresponding actuators in set positions in total-taking operations.

A further object is to provide means associated with each actuator for retaining said actuators in zero position when no amount key is depressed and for retaining said actuators in set positions in total-taking operations.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which is-hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken just to the right of one of the amount banks and showing in particular said amount bank and the actuator mechanism associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a detail View in right elevation of the amount key releasing and actuator retaining pawl operating mechanisms.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the forward end of one of the actuators and the retaining pawl associated therewith, and shows the relative positions of said parts in operations in which no amount key is depressed.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the mechanism shown in Fig. showing the relative positions of the parts at the beginning of total-taking operations.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the mechanism shown.

in Figs. 3 and 4, showing the relative positions of the parts in total-taking operationaafter the actuator has been positioned by the corresponding totalizer wheel.

General description Ehe present invention is shown embodied in a well-known type of accounting machine similar to that disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,203,863, issued November 7, 1916, to Halcolm Ellis; United States Patent No. 1,813,037, issued July 7, 1931, to Emil J. Ens; and United states PatentNo. 2,189,851, issued February 13, 1940, to Paul H. Williams et al., to which reference may be had for a complete disclosure of the details of construction not described in detail herein.

The well-known machines of the type disclosed in the above-cited United States patents are provided with the well-known horizontallyshiftable actuator racks for each denominational order, said actuators being connected to corresponding type carriers and having rack teeth on their rearward ends which'cooperate with corresponding totalizer wheels toposition said type carriers and said totalizer wheels according to the positioning of said actuators in adding and subtracting operations, and to position said type carriers according to the value in the selected totalizer wheels in total-taking or zeroizing operations. During machine operations, an oscillating leading frame mechanism, in its initial movement, yieldingly leads or draws the actuators rearwardly from home or zero position for diiferential positioning, as will be explained presently, and later positively returns said actuators to zero position.

Each denominational order is provided with a row of amount keys numbered from i to 9, and, in lieu of a zero key, there is provided a zero retainmg pawl having a tooth which coacts with a stop block on thecorresponding actuator to retain said actuator in zeroposition when no amount key is depressed. Depression of an amount key rocks the zero retaining pawl to ineffective position and simultaneously moves the lower end of said key into the path or" a corresponding step on the upper edge of the corresponding actuator, whereupon initial rearward movement of the leading frame mechanism yieldingly carries the corresponding actuator rearwardly in unison therewith until such movement obstructed by contact of the step on said actuator with the depressed amount key. This positions the actuator and the corresponding type carrier in accordance with the value of the depressed amount key, the yieldable connection between said actuator and the leading frame mechanism permitting said leading frame mechanism to complete its initial movement without interruption.

In adding operations, after the leading frame mechanism has completed its initial rearward movement and the actuators have been positioned under influence of the depressed amount keys, the wheels of the selected totalizer are engaged with the actuators, after which the leading frame mechanism, in its forward return movement, picks up said actuators and carries them forwardly in unison therewith to home or zero position. During the return movement of the actuators, the wheels of the selected totalizer are rotated in an additive direction the equivalent of the value of the depressed amount keys. After the actuators have been restored to zero position, the wheels of the selected totalizer are disengaged therefrom, and the key releasing mechanism functions to release the depressed amount keys, whereupon they are restored upwardly, under spring tension, to normal or undepressed positions.

A subtract operation is similar to an adding operation with the exception that the Wheels of the selected totalizer are engaged with the amount actuators prior to their initial movement, which movement rotates the said wheels in a reverse or subtractive direction to subtract therefrom the value of the depressed amount keys. After the actuators have completed their initial rearward movement, the wheels of the selected totalizer are disengaged therefrom, so that return movement of said actuators to zero position in the latter part of machine operation will not disturb the position of said totalizer wheels.

In total-taking operations, the key release mechanism functions in the early part of such operations to release any inadvertently depressed amount keys and simultaneously to rock the zero retaining pawls out of engagement with the corresponding actuators, so that said actuators will be free to perform their initial movement under influence of the leading frame mechanism. Prior to initial movement of the actuators, the wheels of the selected totalizer are engaged therewith, and said initial movement rotates said wheels in a reverse or subtractive direction to zero position, which position is determined by one of two diametrically opposite tripping teeth carried by each of said wheels coming in contact with the corresponding add tripping pawl, which stops the reverse rotation of said wheels and also stops the rearward movement of the corresponding actuators to position said actuators in accordance with the amount standing on said wheels. As in other operations, the leading frame mechanism completes its initial movement without interruption.

Prior to the present invention, the mechanism disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,813,037 Was utilized to retain the actuator racks in set positions in total-taking operations. Prior to forward return movement of the leading frame mechanism, the rack-retaining pawls were rocked into engagement with their corresponding ratchet teeth on the lower edge of the corresponding actuators, and, immediately after said retaining mechanism was thus rendered eilective, the wheels of the selected totalizer were disengaged from the actuators, so that said wheels would remain in a zeroized condition. Were it not for the rack-retaining mechanism, disengagement of the totalizer wheels from the corresponding actuators would free said actuators to the action of their respective springs, which connect them to the leading frame mechanism, and said springs would immediately carry said actuators re-arwardly into sharp contact with said leading frame mechanism, thus creating an undesirable condition which might result in mal-functioning of the accumulating mechanism in extreme cases. However, the rack-retaining mechanism prevents this condition and retains said actuators in set position until they are picked up by the leading frame mechanism upon its forward return movement.

The present application is directed to an improved mechanism for retaining the actuators in set positions in total-taking operations and comprises in particular an addition in the form of a rearward extension to each of the usual zero retaining pawls, said extensions having therein, in addition to the usual zero retaining tooth, a similar tooth for each digital position of the corresponding actuator rack, with the exception of the ninth position, which position is determined by a shoulder on said actuator rack contacting a fixed stop when said actuator reaches the extent of its initial movement.

In the beginning of total-taking operations, the functioning of the key-releasing mechanism, as explained earlier herein, rocks all the retaining pawls to ineffective positions to move the rack-retaining teeth therein out of coacting relationship with the stop blocks carried by the corresponding actuators, so as not to interfere with initial rearward movement of said actuators. After the actuators have been positioned under the influence of the corresponding zeroized totalizer wheels, as explained before, the retaining pawls are returned to effective positions, to move the teeth therein into coacting relationship with the corresponding stop blocks. The engagement of the teeth with the stop blocks retains the actuators in set positions, after the correspondin wheels of the selected totalizer have been disengaged therefrom, to prevent the objectionable rearward movement of said actuators under influence of their respective springs, in the manner explained before.

Forward return movement of the actuators, by the leading frame mechanism, causes the stop blocks carried thereby to ratchet beneath the teeth in the corresponding retaining pawls, and said pawls remain effective to retain said actuators in zero positions.

In sub-total-taking operations, the actuator retaining pawls function in exactly the same manner as in total-taking operations. However, in sub-total-taking operations, the wheels of the selected totalizers remain in engagement with the actuators after said actuators have been positioned and during their forward return movement, which movement restores said wheels to their original positions, and in this case the actuator retaining pawls function primarily to take the strain on" of the totalizer mechanism after said actuators have been positioned and prior to their forward return movements.

In adding and subtracting operations, the depression of an amount key in a given order rocks the corresponding actuator retaining pawl to ineffective position, and it is retained thus until said actuators have been positioned under influence of the depressed amount keys and consequently does not interfere with such positioning.

The mechanism which is outlined in general above, and which is pertinent to the proper disclosure of the present invention, will be described in detail in the ensuing pages.

Detailed description The machine embodying the present invention has a plurality of denominational amount banks, similar to the one shown in Fig. 1, which will be explained herein as representative of all of the amount banks.

Each amount bank comprises nine amount keys 20, numbered from 1 to 9, respectively, beginning with the left-hand or lowermost key, said amount keys depressibly supported on a corresponding partition plate 2| by means of formedover ears on the upper edge of the plate, and by means of studs 22, carried by said keys, which engage corresponding vertical slots in said partition plates 2|. The keyboard framework cornprises one of the partition plates 2| for each row of amount keys, at right-hand side plate and a left-hand side plate (not shown) and a top plate 23, secured in proper spaced relationship to each other by various cross bars, rods, and shafts, to form a unitary keyboard structure which is removably mounted in the machine proper by means of slots in said partition plates and said side plates in cooperation with a rod 24 supported in the main framework of the machine, and by means of other slots in cooperation with a bracket 25 and a rod 26, said bracket being secured to said rod. The rods 24 and 26 are supported in the main framework of the machine, said framework not shown herein but being fully disclosed in the United States Patent No. 2,189,851, which may be referred to if a description of said framework is desired.

Each of the amount keys 20 (Fig. 1) carries a stud 21, which extends through a corresponding slot in the partition plate 2| and through corre sponding clearance openings in a detent plate 23 and a control plate 29. The plates 28 and 29 are mounted for horizontal shifting movement between rollers supported by four studs 30, secured in the partition plate 2|. A spring 3|, tensioned between the plates 28 and 29, urges said plates in opposite directions to norm-ally maintain angular c-amming surfaces formed on the noses of detent hooks 32 in each of the openings in the plate 28 and angular camming surfaces 33 formed in each of the openings in the plate 29, in yielding engagement with the corresponding studs 21.

A close-coiled spring (not shown), alternately laced between the studs 27 in the amount keys 20 and stationary studs (not shown) in the partition plate 2|, urges said keys upwardly to normally maintain them undepressed positions, as shown here.

The forward end of the control plate 29 coacts with a bent-over ear 34 (Figs. 1 and 3) on an actuator retaining pawl 35 fulcrumed on a rod 36 supported in the keyboard framework. A spring 31, tensioned between the ear 34 and the control plate 29, normall maintains said parts in yielding engagement with each other. A rearward extension 38 of the retaining pawl 35 has a series of equally spaced teeth 39 arranged to engage the upper end of a beveled retaining block 40 secured to a corresponding actuator 4!. The

actuator 4| is mounted for horizontal shifting movement by means of an undercut portion in its forward end, in cooperation with a corresponding groove in the rod 26, and by means of a slot in its rear end, in cooperation with corresponding grooves in a bar 42, supported in the totalizer framework (not shown). The forward end of the actuator 4| is retained in the groove in the rod 25 by the bracket 25, which extends through a slot formed in the forward end of said actuator and coacts with the downward surface formed by said slot.

The actuator 4| has a vertical slot which engages a stud 43 in a reducer arm segment 44, rotatably supported by a leading frame shaft 45 journaled in the machine framework. A spring 46, tensioned between the segment 44 and a plate secured to a leading frame bail 48, normally maintains a beak 4'! of said segment in yielding contact with the forward e ge of said bail. The bail 48 is supported between similar arms 49 (only one shown here), which extend upwardly and are secured to the leading frame shaft 45. A rearwardly-extending arm 53 of the segment 64 has pivotally connected thereto the lower end of a link 5|, pivotally connected at its upper end to a printing sector 52 in turn rotatably supported on a stud secured in the upper end of a corresponding printing arm 53. The printing sector 52 has thereon printing characters corresponding to the amount keys 20 for recording the value of said keys upon suitable record material supported by a platen roll 54, in turn mounted in the well-known traveling carriage, with which the machine is provided, said carriage not being shown herein but being shown in the patents referred to at the beginning of this specification.

The leading frame bail 48 makes one complete cycle or excursion of oscillatory movement each machine operation. The initial or first portion of this excursion is in a counter-clockwise or rearward direction, which occurs soon after the beginning of machine operation, and the return or second portion of said excursion is in a clockwise or forward direction, which occurs in the latter part of machine operation.

It will be noted by referring to Fig. 1 that the amount keys 2G correspond in value to the digits 1 to 9, respectively, and, as no zero key is provided, the retaining pawl 35 is utilizedzto retain the actuator 4| in home or zero position, as shown here. Consequently, when no amount key 23 is depressed, the pawl 35 remains effective to position the actuator ll and the printing sector 52 in zero position, and in this case operation of the leading frame bail 43 stretches the spring 45 without interfering with the positioning of said actuator 4| by said pawl Depression of an amountkey 28 causes its stud 27, in cooperation with the carnming surface formed on the corresponding detent hook 32, to shift the detent plate 2-8 rearwardly, against the action of the spring 35, until said stud moves beyond said hook, whereupon said spring returns said detent forwardly to latch the hook over the stud 27, to retain said key in depressed position, against the action of the key restoring spring. Likewise, depressing an amount key 253 causes its stud 21, in cooperation with the corresponding camming surface 33, to shift the control plate 29 forwardly, against the action of the spring 3|, causing the forward end of said control plate, in cooperation with the ear ill, to rock the pawl 35 counter-clockwise to move the teeth 33 out of coacting relationship with the block til, to free the actuator t! for initial or rearward movement. Depressing an amount key 29 moves the stud 22, in the lower end thereof, into the path of a corresponding stop shoulder or step formed on the forward end of the actua tor whereupon initial rearward or counterclockwise movement of the leading frame bail 48 causes the spring 46 to yieldingly draw the segment and the actuator il rearwardly in unison therewith until said step 55 contacts said stud 22. This positions the actuator ll in accordance with the value of said depressed amount key, and said actuator in turn, through the segment 44, positions the corresponding printing sector 52 accordingly. After the actuator 4| has been positioned by the depressed amount key, as explained above, the leading frame ball 18 completes its rearward movement, which is of sufficient extent to move said actuator 42 to its ninth or extreme rearward position, tensioning the spring 46. After the bail 33 has completed its initial rearward movement and is dwelling prior to forward return movement, the printing arm 53 is actuated, in the wall-known manner, to impart printing movement to the sector 52 to record the value of the depressed amount key upon the record material supported by the platen 54.

After the actuator ll and the segment 14 (Fig. l) have been positioned, as explained above, and after the bail 43 has completed its initial rearward movement and is dwelling in moved position, an alining bar is rocked into engagement with the corresponding one of a series of teeth 58 formed in the periphery of the segment 44 to aline and retain said segment and the printing sector 52 in set positions prior to and during printing movement of said printing sector. Just before the leading frame bail 423 commences its return movement, the alining bar 51 is disengaged from the teeth 58 and remains disengaged, as shown here, during the remainder of machine operation.

The actuator ll (Fig. 1) has gear teeth on its upper edge, which cooperate with similar teeth in the corresponding wheel 59 of a #1 totalizer,

said wheel being rotatably supported on a #1 totalizer shaft, rockably mounted in the totalizer framework in the usual manner. Likewise, the actuator 41 has gear teeth on its lower edge, which cooperate with similar teeth in a corresponding wheel of a #2 totalizer, said wheel being rotatably supported on a #2 totalizer shaft rockably mounted in the totalizer framework. If desirable, the actuator Al may be provided with an extension having several sets of upper and lower teeth, similar to those on the rearward end of said actuator i, for coacting with the corresponding wheels of additional totalizers, similar in every respect to the #1 and #2 totalizers.

Using the #1 totalizer as an example of all the totalizers, in adding operations, after the actuator 41 has completed its initial movement and has been positioned by the depressed amount key 28, the #1 totalizer shaft is rocked downwardly,

in the usual manner, to engage the corresponding wheel 58 with the teeth in the upper edge of said actuator. Forward return movement of the actuator 4i rotates the wheel 59 in a clockwise or additive direction to enter therein the value of the depressed key 29. When the adding wheel 59 passes through zero, while traveling in an additive direction, one of the diametrically opposed tripping teeth on a tripping cam 63 integral with said wheel engages the tripping tooth of a corresponding add transfer pawl 64 and rocks said pawl clockwise to cause 1 to be entered in the adjacent higher order, in the customary and well-known manner.

Conditioning the machine for a subtract operation causes the add pawl 64 to be rocked out of coacting relationship with the tripping teeth on the cam 63 and simultaneously causes the corresponding subtract pawl 65 to be rocked into coacting relationship with said teeth. In subtract operations, the wheel 59 of the #'l totalizer is rocked into engagement with the teeth on the upper edge of the actuator 4| prior to initial movement of said actuator, which movement rotates said wheel in a counter-clockwise or subtractive direction to subtract therefrom the value of the depressed amount key 20. After the leading frame bail 48 has completed its initial movement and is dwelling in moved position, the wheel 59 is disengaged from the actuator 4| so that forward return movement of said actuator will not disturb the positioning of said wheel. When the wheel 59 passes through zero while traveling in a subtractive direction, one of the diametrically opposed tripping teeth on the tripping cam 63 engages and rocks the corresponding subtract pawl 65 counter-clockwise to cause 1 to be subtracted or borrowed from the ad- J'acent higher order, in the usual and well-known manner.

At the end of adding and subtracting operations, the key release mechanism functions automatically to shift the detent plate 28 (Fig. 1) rearwardly to release the depressed amount key 20 to the action of the key restoring spring, which immediately restores said key upwardly to undepressed position.

The detent 28 (Figs. 1 and 2) has an upper extension 65, with an angular camming surface, which coacts with a stud 61 in an arm 68 secured on a key release shaft 69 journaled in the keyboard framework. Also secured on the shaft 59 is a depending arm 19, with an inverted V- shaped slot in its lower end, which coacts with a stud H in an upward extension 72 of a key release bar 73 mounted for horizontal shifting movement by means of parallel slots therein in cooperation with studs 14 and 15, secured in the main left frame (not shown) of the machine. The bar 13 has secured in its rearward end a stud 15, on which is pivoted a key release pawl 11, urged clockwise by a torsion spring 18 to normally maintain a downward surface on a hook 79, formed thereon, in yielding engagement with a roller mounted on a key release disk 8| secured on a main shaft 82 journaled in the main framework of the machine.

The main shaft 82 and the disk 8] are rocked first counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, and then back to normal position through an angle of approximately 60 degrees in the well-known manner by the operating mechanism, which is fully disclosed in the United States Patent No. 2,189,851. Initial counter-clockwise movement of the disk 81 (Fig. 2) causes the roller 80 to bypass the hook 19, whereupon the spring 18 rocks the pawl I1 clockwise to move said hook into the path of said roller. Clockwise return movement of the shaft 82 and the disk 8| causes the roller 86 to engage the hook 151 and carry the pawl 11 and the bar '13 rearwardly in unison therewith, which movement, through the stud ll, rocks the arm 10, the shaft 69, and the arm 68 counter-clockwise. Counter-clockwise movement of the arm 68 causes the stud 61, in cooperation with the camming surface on the extension 66, to shift the detent plate 28 rearwardly, against the action of the spring 3| (Fig. 1), to disengage the hook 32 in said detent from the stud 21 of the depressed amount key 20, to release said amount key to the action of its spring, which immediately restores said key up wardly to undepressed position. Immediately after the amount key has been released, an upward extension 83 of the pawl 11 moves into engagement with a stationary stud 84, which rocks said pawl counter-clockwise to disengage the hook 19 from the roller 80 and thereby free the bar 13 and connected mechanism to the action of the spring 31, which immediately restores said bar and said mechanism to normal 9 positions, as shown here, a short time before said disk 8| completes its clockwise return movement.

The key releasing mechanism functions in the manner explained above to release the depressed amount keys in adding and subtracting operations. In total and sub-total taking or recording operations, the key releasing mechanism functions near the beginning of such operations to release any inadvertently depressed amount keys prior to initial rearward movement of the actuators, to forestall possible mal-operation of the machine.

A downward extension of the bar 13 (Fig. 2) carries a stud 85, upon which is pivoted a key release. pawl 86 having a rearwardly extending tail 81, which overlies a stud 88 in a lever 89 pivotally connected at its forward end to a latch 92 for the sub-total key. The torsion spring 1'8 is tensioned to normally urge the pawl 86 counter-clockwise; however, a spring 93, one end of which is connected to a stud in the lever 89, isstrong enough to overcome the action of said torsion spring 18 and normally maintains said lever 89 in contact with a collar 9| on the stud I5. This, through the stud 83, maintains the pawl 86 in the position shown here, in which a release notch 94 in its rear end is out of engagement with a roller 95 in a release lever 96 pivoted on a stationary stud 91. A spring 913 urges the lever 96 counter-clockwise to normally maintain a camming surface 99 thereon in contact with a roller I carried by the disk 8|.

In adding and subtracting operations, the lever 89 normally maintains the pawl 86 in ineffective position, as shown here, so that the lever 96 will not impart releasing movement to the bar 13, during the earlier part of these operations. However, in total and sub-total taking operations, the lever 85! is rocked clockwise, by mechanism not shown but well known in the art, against the action of the spring 93, at the very beginning of machine operation, which movement withdraws the stud 88 from the tail 8?, thus permitting the spring 18 to rock the pawl 36 counterclockwise to engage the notch 94 with the roller 95, prior to initial movement of the main shaft 82 and the disk 8|. Initial counter-clockwise movement of the disk 8| causes the roller I30, in cooperation with a node on the camming surface 69, to rock the lever 86 counter-clockwise to shift the pawl 66 and the bar 73 rearwardly. Rearward movement of the bar l3 rocks the arm 10, the shaft 6?], and the arm 63 counter-clockwise, causing the stud Bl, in cooperation with the camming surface on the extension E6, to shift the detent 28 rearwardly to release any inadvertently depressed amount keys 2|: at the beginning of total and sub-total operations, and prior to any rearward movement of the actuators 4| (Fig. 1).

Inasmuch as no amount key is depressed in total and sub-total taking operations, it is necessary to disengage the zero retaining pawl 35 from the retaining block 40, so that the actuator 4| may be free to move rearwardly and be positioned under influence of the corresponding wheel of the selected totalizer. This is effected by counter-clockwise movement of the arm 68 (Fig. 2), which causes the stud 61', in cooperation with an angular camming surface on an upward extension |0| of the control plate 29, to shift said plate forwardly against the action of the spring 3| (Fig. 1). Forward movement of the plate 29 causes its forward end, in cooperation with the ear 34, to rock the retaining pawl 35 counterclockwise, from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4:, to free the actuator 4| for initial positioning movement. In total and sub-total taking operations, the actuator 4| moves rearwardly under influence of initial movement of the leading frame bail 48 (Fig. 1) and rotates the corresponding wheel 59 of the selected totalizer in a reverse direction until such movement is stopped by engagement of one of the diametrically opposed teeth on the tripping cam 63 with the tooth on the tripping pawl 84. This stops the totalizer wheel in zero position and positions the actuator 4| in accordance with the amount standing on said totalizer wheel.

After the leadingframe bail 48 has completed its initial rearward movement and is dwelling in moved position, and prior to disengagement of the corresponding wheel of the selected totalizer from'the actuator 4|, continued initial counterclockwise movement of the shaft 82 and the disk 8| (Fig. 2) causes a roller I02, carried by said disk, in cooperation with a camming surface M3 on the upper edge or" the pawl 86, to rock said pawldownwardly or clockwise against the action of the spring 18, to disengage the notch 94 from the roller 95 to permit the bar 73 and connected parts to be restored forwardly under influence of the spring 3| (Fig. l) to normal position. This restoring of the bar 73 permits the control plate 29 to be restored rearwardly under influence of the spring 3|, and such movement of said plate, through the spring 31, carries the retaining pawl 35 clockwise in unison therewith to engage the corresponding one of the teeth 39 with the retaining block M, as shown in Fig. 5, to retain the actuator 4! in set position.

In total taking operations, after the pawl 38 has been restored to effective position, as shown in Fig. 5, the corresponding wheel of the selected totalizer is disengaged from the actuator 4|, and simultaneously therewith the alining bar 51 is disengaged from the teeth 58 in the segment 44. Were it not for the teeth 39 in the retaining pawl 33, the disengagement of the totalizer wheel 59 and the alining bar 5! would free the actuator M to the action of the spring 46 (Fig. 1), and, as this freeing would occur soon after the leading frame bail 58 has started its forward return movement, and while considerable tension remains on the spring 4%, the actuator 4| and the corresponding segment 44 would be carried rearwardly under the influence of said spring until the beak 41 of said segment would come into abrupt and sharp contact with the leading frame ball 48. This undesirable condition would be most pronounced when the actuator 4| is positioned in its first or zero position under influence of the selected totalizer wheel, said condition gradually diminishing as the actuator is positioned in hi her digital position. However, this undesirable freeing of the actuator 4| to the action of the spring 48 is, effectively prevented by the retaining pawl 38, which remains in engagement, as shown in Fig. 5, for the remainder of machine operation, and, as the leading frame bail picks up the actuator ll and restores it forwardly to Zero position, the stop block 40 ratchets idly beneath the teeth 3Q until said actuator arrives in zero position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, where said pawl 38 remains effective to retain said actuator H in zero position in the usual manner, as explained earlier.

Summarizing briefly, it should be clear that the present application discloses a simple and 11 efficient pawl mechanism associated with each amount actuator for retaining the actuators in set positions in total taking operations, in a more efficient, facile, and economical manner than was possible heretofore.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment disclosed herein, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, capable of add, subtract, and total-taking operations, said machine having a plurality of denominational rows of amount keys and a totalizer with a wheel for each denominational row of amount keys, the combination of a settable actuator for each denominational row of amount keys; yieldable means effective at the beginning of machine operation to yieldingly move the actuators in an initial direction to cause them to be set by the depressed amount keys in add and subtract operations, and by the zeroized totalizer wheels in total-taking operations; an individual retaining means for each actuator, said means normally effective to retain the corresponding actuators against movement by the yieldable means; means associated with each of said retaining means and operable by depression of a corresponding amount key to render the corresponding retaining means ineffective; and means coacting with the means associated with each retaining means to render all the retaining means ineffective at the beginning of total-taking operations, said means also effective to render all the retaining means effective after the actuators have been set by the zeroized totalizer wheels, to retain said actuators in set positions.

2. In a machine of the class described, capable of add, subtract, and zeroizing operations, said machine having a plurality of denominational orders of accounting mechanism, the combination of an actuator for each denominational order; means to impart yieldable initial or positioning movement and positive return movement to the actuators each machine operation; means special to each actuator for normally retaining them in home or zero position against the initial action of the imparting means; a row of depressible amount keys for each actuator; means operable by depression of an amount key to move the corresponding retaining means to ineffective position, to permit positioning of the actuators by the corresponding depressed amount keys in add and subtract operations; a totalizer having a totalizer wheel for each actuator, each of said wheels comprising zero stop means, said wheels engageable with the corresponding actuators prior to their initial movement in zeroizing operations, which movement zeroizes said wheels and sets said actuators in positions corresponding to the values thereon, said wheels disengageable from said actuators after being zeroized and prior to return movement of the imparting means; and means coacting with the moving means for the retaining means in zeroizing operations, to move the retaining means to ineffective position prior to initial movement of the actuators, and to restore said retaining means to effective position prior to disengagement of the zeroized totalizer wheels from said actuators and prior to return movement of the imparting means, to retain said actuators in set positions.

3. In a machine of the character described, capable of zeroizing operations and having a plurality of denominational orders of numeral keys, the combination of a settable actuator for each denominational order; means to impart yieldable initial and positive return movement to the actuators; means special to each actuator to retain them against initial movement by the imparting means; means, including an element for each retaining means, operable by the effective numeral keys to render the corresponding retaining means ineffective, to release the actuators for initial movement, during which movement said actuators are positioned by said effective numeral keys according to the values thereof; a totalizer having a wheel for each denominational order, each of said wheels comprising zero stop means, said wheels engageable with the corresponding actuators in zeroizing operations prior to their initial movement and disengageable therefrom prior to their return movement; and means coacting with the elements in zeroizing operations to render the retaining means ineffective prior to initial movement of the actuators, which movement zeroizes the corresponding totalizer wheels and sets said actuators accordingly, said means effective to render the retaining means effective after the imparting means has completed its initial movement and prior to disengaging of the totalizer wheels from the actuators, to retain said actuators in set position.

4. In a machine of the class described, capable of add, subtract, and zeroizing operations, the combination of a settable actuator normally in zero position; means to yieldingly draw the actuator from zero position in a setting direction and to positively return said actuator to zero position; means normally effective to retain the actuator in zero position against the yieldable action of the drawing and returning means, said means also constructed and arranged to retain the actuator in set position in zeroizing operations; a row of numeral keys effectiv in add or subtract operations to terminate the setting movement of the actuator and to set it according to the value of the effective numeral key; means including an element operable by the effective numeral key to render the retaining means ineffective; a totalizer wheel comprising zero stop means, said wheel engageable with the actuator in zeroizing operations prior to its setting movement, which movement zeroizes said wheel and sets said actuator accordingly, said wheel disengageable from said actuator after being zeroized and prior to its return movement; and means coacting with the element in zeroizing operations to render the retaining means ineffective prior to setting movement of the actuator, said means also effective to render the retaining means effective after setting movement of the actuator is completed and prior to disengagement of the zeroized totalizer wheel to retain said actuator in set position.

5. In a machine of the class described, having a plurality of denominational orders of depressible numeral keys, and a totalizer having a Wheel for each order of numeral keys, the combination of an actuator for each denominational order and settable by the corresponding amount keys in certain operations to transmit values from said keys to the totalizer, and settable by said totalizer wheels in zeroizing operations to position said actuators according to the Values on said wheels; means to impart yieldable initial or setting movement to the actuators, said means also effective to impart positive return movement to said actuators; a projection on each actuator; a retaining member for each actuator having teeth corresponding to the different settable positions of said actuators and coacting with the corresponding projections to retain said actuators in set positions, said means normally efiective to retain said actuators against setting movement by the imparting means; means including an element for each order of numeral keys and operable by the corresponding depressed numeral keys to operate the corresponding retaining means to move the teeth out of engagement with the projections, to permit the actuators to be positioned by said depressed keys; and means coacting with the elements in zeroizing operations to operate the retaining means to move the teeth out of engagement with the projections prior to and during initial movement of the actuators, which movement zeroizes the corresponding totalizer wheels and sets said actuators accordingly, said means also effective to operate the retaining means, after the totalizer wheels have been zeroized, to move the teeth into engagement with the projections to retain the actuators in set positions. 6. In a machine of the class described, capabl of add, subtract, and total-taking operations, said machine having a plurality of denominational rows oi amount keys and a totalizer with a wheel for each denominational row of amount keys, the combination of a settable actuator for each denominational row of amount keys; yieldable means effective at the beginning of machine operation to yieldingly move the actuators in an initial direction to cause them to be set by the depressed amount keys in add and subtract operations and by the zeroized totalizer wheels in total-taking operations; an individual retaining means for each actuator; spring means for each retaining means and normally effective to cause said retaining means to retain the correspondin actuators in zero positions against movement by the yieldable means; an element for each rctaining means and operable by the depression of a corresponding amount key to render the corresponding retaining means ineffective; and means coacting with the elements in the beginning of total-taking operations to render all the retaining means ineffective, said means also effective after the totalizer has been zeroized to free the retaining means to the action of the spring means, which returns said retaining means to efiective positions to retain the actuators in set Positions.

7. In a machine of the class described, capable of total-taking or zeroizing operations, and having a plurality of denominational orders of accounting mechanism, the combination of a settable actuator for each denominational order; means to yieldingly draw the actuators in a zeroiZing direction; a totalizer having denominational totalizer wheels corresponding to the actuators, said wheels engageable with said actuators during the zeroizing movement and effective upon arriving at zero to stop the movement of said actuators to set or position them according to the values on said wheels; 9. rockable retaining member for each actuator, said retaining members each having teeth corresponding to the various settable positions of said actuators; a projection on each actuator normally engaged by the teeth of the corresponding retaining member to retain said actuators in zero positions against the action of the drawing means; an independently operable element for each retaining member; and control means coacting with each independently operable element in zeroizing operations to rock the retaining means to ineffective position to free the actuators for positioning movement under influence of the drawing means, said control means effective after the totalizer wheels have been zeroized and the actuators set accordingly to reengage the teeth of said retaining members with said corresponding projections to retain said actuators in set positions against the action of the drawing means.

8. In a machine of the class described, capable of total-taking or zeroizing operations and having a plurality of denominational orders of accounting mechanism, the combination of a settable actuator for each denominational order; a totalizer having a wheel for each denominational order, each wheel having zero stop means associated therewith, said wheels engageable with the corresponding actuators prior to their initial movement, which movement zeroides said wheels. and sets said actuators in digital positions corresponding to the values on said wheels, said wheels disengageable from said actuators after being zeroized; a constant displacement mechanism to lead the actuators from home or zero position to any digital position and return; yieldable means to connect each actuator to the constant displacement mechanism to permit said mechanism to complete its initial movement after the actuators have been set by the zeroized totalizer wheels; a movable retaining member for each actuator, each member having a series of ratchet teeth corresponding to the various digital positions of the actuators; a projection on each actuator; spring means for each retaining member normally eiiective to maintain the teeth of said retaining members in engagement with the corresponding projections to retain the actuators in home or zero position; a separate independently operable control element for each retaining member; and means coacting with each independently operable control element in the beginning of zeroizing operations to move the retaining members contrary to the action of the spring means to disengage the teeth of said members from the corresponding projections to free the actuators for initial or positioning movement, said means also eiiective to free the retaining members to the action of the spring means, after the totalizer wheels have been zeroized and the actuators set accordingly, to return the teeth therein into engagement with the corresponding projections to retain said actuators in set positions.

JAMES WALLACE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

